What were the formative influences on those crazy ballroom cats? What diabolical pacts have they entered into to secure their coolly understated musical mien? And did they get a good deal when they traded in their youth and beauty?
Reader, read on...
Four Lancaster musicians have appropriated the 1969 Brit-rock aesthetic of the Cream, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple (think sublime ensemble improvisation and outrageous instrumental bombast), married it to the angular lyricism of Ornette Coleman, and contrived to produce a sound that is at once startlingly original, strangely familiar and deeply, deeply groovy. The result is by turns visceral, enigmatic, menacing and heartachingly beautiful.
Jimmy Bamber drums
Veteran drummer Jimmy Bamber started out with lessons from Ginger Baker, was signed to Harvest Records and negotiated the 70s prog and fusion scene with Earth (later to morph into Spooky Tooth) and Peaches. In the 80s he toured with Alexei Sayle’s Radical Posture & appeared in the Young Ones, whilst also finding time to drum for the Wombles! Returning to Lancaster in the 90s he co-formed Underground Ballroom and launched his own successful Ragga collective and label ‘Bamjimba Productions’.
Gary Thistlethwaite bass
Bassist Gary Thistlethwaite formed country rock outfit ‘White Line Fever’ in Morecambe in the 80s. Invited to Nashville to record, they were immediately signed to CBS Records and stayed for 4 years, touring the US and making many TV appearances with the likes of Carl Perkins, Waylon Jennings and the Charlie Daniels Band.
Mike Atherton guitar, vocals
Lead singer and guitarist Mike Atherton grew up in Virginia, US, where he was introduced to black gospel and country blues. Moving to the UK he took up guitar and soon found himself sitting in with established bluesmen Joe Louis Walker, Lefty Diz and Fenton Robinson. Mike returned to the US on a pilgrimage to the southside of Chicago where he discovered there was something ‘British’ he’d always wanted to play. Returning to the UK once again, he set up blues band ‘The Hustle’, which later morphed into Underground Ballroom.
Jake Jackson organ
Organist Jake Jackson played lounge music before it was hip, before moving into funk territory with instrumental outfit ‘Memphis Underground’. He has worked with guitarist Gary Boyle (Brian Auger, Isotope) and recently recorded an album with P-Funkateer and former Quazar guitarist Kevin Goins. His erstwhile funk collective ‘The Landing’ headlined Lancaster Jazz Festival in 2006, featuring Luke Flowers (Cinematic Orchestra) on drums.
